Watch-protector.



W. P. DEVINE.

WATCH PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED AUG.28|1918.

1 ,3 13,798. .Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

\nvanlor. Wflliqm P. Davina vfv wd mzlkqmmz- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. DEVINE, 0F DORGHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 DEVINE MFG. 00., INC., BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WATCH-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Application filed August 28. 1918. Serial No. 261.793.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. Dnvnvn, a citizen ofthe United States, and resident of Dorchester, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Watch-Protectors, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel protector adapted to give protection to watch crystals, watch dials, etc., which is transparent and practically unbreakable and which will retain its transparency during continued use.

There are some transparent substantially non-breakable materials such for instance as celluloid, which have the characteristic that the polished or smooth surface thereof is easily scratched.

Where material of this kind is used for a watch crystal (which is a protector for the dial and the hands of a watch) or for a watch crystal protector the constant rubbing which such a protector receives will soon-scratch the surface of the protector and cloud the same so as to destroy the transparency thereof. This is an objection which is met with in the use of celluloid for watch crystals or protectors for watchcrystals.

By my invention I am enabled to make from celluloid or similar material which will easily become marred or scratched a watch crystal or a protector for watch crystals which will retain its transparent character during continued use. I accomplish this by providing the protector for the hands of a watch or for the watch crystal protector with a plurality of raised portions or ribs situated on the exposed face thereof and extending over the portions of the protector that overlie the figures on the watch dial. Such raised porti ns or ribs receive the wear to which the protector is subjected and thus prevent the portion of the protector through which the figures or numerals on the dial are seen from being scratched or marred and thereby becoming clouded.

It will be apparent from the above that the invention may be embodied in either a watch crystal or a protector for a watch crystal and in the drawings I have illus trated both forms of the Invention.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a watch crystal protector embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a different form of watch crystal protector showing a different embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a watch crystal embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line H, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through a watch crystal showing a different embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a watch crystal embodying my invention, and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the edge of the protector shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the edge of the protector shown in Fig. 1.

As stated above by invention may be embodied in either a watch crystal or in a watch crystal protector. Figs. 3 to 7 show a watch crystal and Figs. 1 and 2 show a watch crystal protector. The protector, whether in the form of a watch crystal or a watch crystal protector comprises a body 1 made of some transparent material which is rela tively tough and non-breakable so that it will withstand a blow without cracking or breaking. Material of the nature of celluloid has this characteristic but celluloid is of such a nature that the surface will become easily scratched and when it is scratched the transparent character is less ened or even lost entirely. If a Celluloid protector for a watch crystal becomes thus scratched or marred, the figures or numerals on the dial and the position of the hands relative thereto can be read only with great difficulty. In order toprovide a celluloid protector for a watch crystal or for the hands of a watch which will maintain its transparent character during continued use, I propose to provide the portion of the body 1 through which the figures or numerals on the dial are seen with a plurality of raised portions or projections which are designed to receive the wear to which the protector is subjected and thus prevent the portions of the body between said projections from becoming scratched or marred. By thus placing these projections so that they extend over the portion of the body through which the figures or numerals of the dial are seen,

this portion of the body will always be protected from being marred 0r scratched, and will thus maintain its transparent character.

I have shown in the drawings various ways in which the ribs or projections may be arranged and yet accomplish the desired object. In Fig. 1 the projections are in the nature of ribs 6 which have a radial direction and which extend clear to the periphery of the body, thus extending over the portion of the body through which the numer als or figures on the dial are seen.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a construction wherein the ribs 6 have a parallel arrangement, but these ribs also extend to the pe riphery of the body so that they cover the portion of the body through which the figures on the dial are seen.

In Fig. 3 the ribs 6 are shown as having a concentric arrangement, and in Fig. 6 is illustrated a construction wherein the ribs shown at.16, have a right angular arrangement, two sets of ribs 16 being employed, the ribs of one set extending at right angles to the other set. The above however are only a few suggestions as to different shapes and arrangements of ribs which might be employed, but in every case the ribs extend over the peripheral portion of the body that overlies the figures on the dial.

The presence of the ribs 6 prevents the portion of the protector between the ribs from becoming scratched or scarred and thus the protector will retain its transparent character notwithstanding constant use.

These ribs 6 may be formed on the protector in various ways without departing from the invention. One convenient way is to make the ribs 6 integral with the body of the protector by molding or pressing the protector into shape between dies. This construction is shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 5 I have shown a construction wherein the ribs are in the form of bars 8 inserted into grooves 7 formed in the body 1. These bars may be made of metallic or non-metallic material, the only requisite being that they have a thickness greater than the depth of the groove 7 so that they will project above the surface of the body 1 to form the desired rib 6.

In order to facilitate the insertion intoa watch bezel of a watch crystal made as above described I propose to place a metal band 10 around the peripheral edge of the crystal. This band may simply embrace the edge 11 of the crystal that snaps into the bezel as shown in Fig. 9, or may em- Oopiee of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the brace the entire peripheral edge as shown in Fig. 8. In either case the pressing of the metal band or rim preserves thenecessary sharp edge and gives the periphery of the crystal the requisite resiliency so that it can be readily snapped into a watch bezel by hand.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a construction wherein the protecting ribs shown at 16 are integral with the metal rim 10. In this case the ribs 16 simply lie on the surface of the crystal but they have the desired function of preventing the surface of the crystal from becoming scratched the same as the other constructions illustrated.

The construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 can be produced by dieing out a sheet of metal to produce the desired arrangement of bars 16 to form protecting ribs, and then applying said died out sheet to the face of the crystal and spinning or bending the edge of the sheet around the edge of the crystal.

Where the invention is embodied in a watch crystal protector as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 I propose to make the body 1 of a size to cover the watch crystal and to provide it with some suitable means for securing it to a watch. In Fig. 1 the body has integral therewith resilient arms or fingers 2 that are adapted to embrace the edge of the watch. In Fig. 2 a construction is shown wherein the protector has the usual loops 9 through which the strap of the watch may be passed.

The watch crystal protector will also preferably be shaped to provide a peripheral supporting flange 4 which rests on the watch case immediately ciroumjacent the crystal and which holdsthe protector slightly separated from the face of the crystal.

WVhile I have ilustrated various embodiments of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the construction shown.

I claim:

A protector for. the hands or crystal of a watch comprising a body of celluloid havin ribs formed on that portion of its expose face which overlies the figures or numerals on the watch dial, said ribs having such relation to each other as to protect the portion of the body through which said figures or numerals are seen from becoming marred or scratched by ordinary wear.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WLLIAM P. DEVINE.

Washington, D. 0. 

